Some $1.7 billion has been invested in Iran's oil and gas exploration projects in the past four years, official statistics show.
The Islamic Republic Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) quoted the National Iranian Oil Company''s reports that $820 million of the investments were made by domestic resources.
In this period (starting March 21), 22 new oil and gas reservoirs in 17 oil and gas fields were discovered and seven contracts in exploration and development blocks were signed.
The value of the contracts, which have been signed with seven reputable Asian and European international companies, amounts to a minimum of $700 million and operations in these exploration blocks are going ahead as planned.